Baby Center News & Features
Most Baby Foods on the Market Aren't Healthy, Study Says
- White Noise for Babies: Sleep Aid or Potential Hazard?
July 16, 2024 — White noise helps babies sleep by masking disruptions, but researchers warn that long-term, high-volume exposure may cause developmental harm such as hearing loss and learning setbacks. Here's what to know.
- U.S. Infant Mortality Rates Rise for First Time in 2 Decades
November 1, 2023 — Infant mortality rates rose in 2022 for the first time in more than 20 years, according to a new government report. The overall mortality rate and the rate for neonatal infants, those younger than 28 days old, rose by 3% from 2021 to 2022.
- FDA Approves RSV Antibody Shot for Infants
July 18, 2023 — The FDA has approved a shot that is highly effective at protecting infants from potentially deadly illnesses caused by respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Nearly all children have an RSV infection by their second birthday.
- Fathers' Support Key to Infant Breastfeeding, Safe Sleeping
June 16, 2023 — Fathers make a big difference in whether infants are breastfed and are put to sleep safely, according to a study published in Pediatrics.
- Researchers Discover Brain Abnormalities in Babies Who Had SIDS
May 25, 2023 — Researchers have discovered specific brain abnormalities in babies who died of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
- Easing Anxiety as a Caregiver of a Baby With Food Allergies
Caring for a baby with severe food allergies can feel overwhelming and stressful. Learn how to better manage your anxiety.
- Filling the Nutritional Gaps for Babies With Food Allergies
Wondering if your baby who has a food allergy is getting the nutrients they need for proper growth and development? Learn about vital vitamins, food and milk alternatives, and more.
- Baby Hair Care: Tips for Natural Hair, From Doctors
How to take care of your baby’s natural hair: Find out what a dermatologist and a doctor say.
- Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths for Black Families Rose in 2020
March 13, 2023 — Sudden unexplained infant deaths among Black families went up sharply in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to research conducted by the CDC that was published in the journal Pediatrics.
- Ways to Make Parenting More Accessible
Parenting a baby when you have a physical disability can make some tasks tricker. This is what parents say helps.
- What Is a Lactation Massager?
A handheld lactation massager may be used to help someone who’s breastfeeding and has clogged ducts or engorged breasts, but old-fashioned remedies may be better.
- Soothing Your Baby’s Reflux
When is spitting up normal, and when is it a problem? A pediatrician and parent who’s been there share their wisdom.
- How to Wean Your Baby From a Pacifier
Step by step tips on how to wean your baby from a pacifier.
- How to Get Diapers If You Can't Afford Them
Learn about the resources and help available to parents and families who can't afford baby diapers.
- Alternatives to Breastfeeding
For whatever reason, sometimes breastfeeding isn’t the best option for new moms. Find out what alternatives are available to you for your baby.
- How to Prepare for a Baby: What I Wish I Knew
Parents share what they wish they’d known before they brought their newborn home.
- Early Skin-to-Skin Contact Helps Baby's Brain
Research suggests that skin-to-skin contact in the first few months of an infant's life can play a key role in baby’s development.
- Preventing Eczema in Babies With Dry Skin
In babies, eczema usually shows up as an itchy, red patch on the cheeks, chin, or scalp and the front of arms and legs. If you see these signs, doctors recommend the “soak and seal” method.
- What to Expect From Your First Pregnancy Ultrasound
Your first pregnancy ultrasound offers an early peek inside the womb, and a chance to learn a bit more about your baby’s well-being and expected due date.
- When to Call a Pediatrician
When you're the parent of a baby, it's sometimes hard to know whether to call the doctor if your baby gets sick. Get tips and learn signs to watch for.
- Don’t Overuse Baby Food Pouches, Experts Warn
Child health experts say overusing baby food pouches could potentially breed poor eating habits and stunt development of feeding skills and motor coordination at a critical stage of life.
- What Really Happens When You Have Twins (or More)
The birth of twins or triplets can be joyful but overwhelming. A medical doctor and mother of twins offers advice on navigating the first few months.
- Monitors Can Watch Baby's Breathing, but at What Risk?
A new type of baby monitor checks sleeping children’s vital signs. But a pediatricians group says it found no evidence they help prevent SIDS in healthy babies, and a study says the monitors are often inaccurate.
- The Very Real Risk of Using Baby Walkers
A recent study says about 2,000 babies visit emergency rooms each year with walker-related injuries; an injury research expert warns about their dangers.
- Baby Furniture: What You Need, What Can Wait
There are all kinds of furniture you can buy to deck out your nursery. Learn what you’ll really need and what’s optional.
- Why Are Babies Sleeping in Boxes?
These cardboard boxes help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of death.
- Best Toys for Babies
How to choose playthings that inspire exploration and build skills.
- How to Start Your Search for a Pediatrician
Everything you need to know about how to look for the right doctor for your baby.
- What to Ask a Pediatrician Before You Pick One
Find out what to look for when you visit a pediatrician's office before you decide if he's the right doctor for your child.
- Is It Time to Break Up With Your Pediatrician?
Learn the warning signs that suggest the time has come to find a new doctor to take care of your child's health.
- Is It Colic or Something Else?
You think your crying baby has colic, but how do you know for sure? Here are some ailments that can mimic colic.
- 6 Devices That Help With Bottle-Feeding
Bottle-feeding your baby is pretty simple, but there are some products that could come in handy. Find out what really helps.
- Tips for Bottle-Feeding Your Baby on the Go
You’re heading out on a trip with your baby. Whether you’re going across town or across the country, you’ll want to be ready to feed your little one. Get tips to make it easier.
- How to Take Care of Your New Arrival
Like most first-time moms, Brittany Shives had high hopes for the birth of her first baby. But just about every one of those plans fell apart when she gave birth nearly 7 weeks before her due date.
- Your Premature Baby: Milestones for the First 18 Months
An expert explains how premature babies have the same milestones as babies born on time, if you adjust the typical timeline for their early birth.
- How to Talk to Your Baby
Babies and toddlers need lots of sleep, playtime, and love. They also need a parent who can carry on a conversation, and that doesn't mean baby talk.
- 8 Tummy Time Tips for Your Baby
Tummy time helps your baby develop. Use these tips to do it safely and make it fun.
- 9 Breast-Milk Pumping Tips for New Moms
For new moms who have never used a breast pump before, here are tips on how to pump quickly and easily.
- Baby on a Plane: How to Prepare
For air travel with a tot, you need a flight plan – and some key equipment.
- Should Your Baby Use a Pacifier?
Before you buy baby's first binky, get answers to new parents' common questions about pacifier use.
- 5 Stretches for New Moms
Five gentle, post-baby stretches that will ease you back into exercising.
- Q&A With Lisa Ling
The globe-trotting reporter talks about her career, her baby, and her marriage – and how she juggles it all.
- Bottle Feeding and Formula: Expert Q&A
From how to hold the bottle to how much to feed, new parents havemany questions about feeding. Here are some answers.
- Newborn Baths 101
Soaping up doesn’t have to be a big to-do. Stay above water with these tips.
- Measuring and Mixing Formula
Find out how to measure and mix your baby's formula.
- How to Protect Your Baby From Whooping Cough
It's not enough to get your baby vaccinated against whooping cough. You need to get vaccinated, too.
- What to Do When Baby Refuses a Bottle
If you're bottle-feeding your baby, get solutions to some common feeding problems, such as your baby refusing the bottle.
- Tips to Comfort Your Sick Baby
Simple home remedies can help your baby feel better when he has a cold or cough.
- 5 Ways to Treat Your Baby's Stuffy Nose
Ease your baby's congestion with these simple home remedies for a cold and stuffy nose.